Controversy Over Frida Kahlo Artworks Transfer to Spain

A controversy has erupted over the transfer of Frida Kahlo artworks from Mexico to Spain, as part of an agreement with Banco Santander. Nearly 400 cultural sector workers have signed an open letter, demanding clarification from the government regarding the implications of the agreement, as the works have been designated as "heirlooms."

Francisco Berzunza, a historian and one of the letter's authors, stated that it is easier to see Kahlo's works outside of Mexico than within.

The collection, currently exhibited in Mexico, will return to Spain and form the cornerstone of the new cultural center Faro Santander. Daniel Vega Pérez de Arlucea, director of Faro Santander, stated that the collection will have a "permanent presence" there, raising concerns that the works may never return to Mexico.

Gabriela Mosqueda, a curator, emphasized that legislation protects these works, especially those designated as national monuments.

According to a 1984 presidential decree, Kahlo's works can only be loaned outside of Mexico temporarily. The country's National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (Inbal) is responsible for the "repatriation" of works in private collections abroad.